Run Windows and More on Mac VMware Fusion
Harness the full power of your Mac when you use VMware Fusion to run Windows, Linux, containers, Kubernetes and more in virtual machines (VMs) without rebooting.
Fusion Pro and Fusion Player are relied upon by millions of IT professionals, students, developers and businesses around the world. Get your copy today!
Register now for a free, perpetual, Personal Use license for Fusion Player (formerly just “Fusion”)
Running Windows on Mac is only the beginning. Choose from hundreds of supported operating systems, from lesser-known Linux distributions to the latest Windows 10 or macOS, all without rebooting.
Our CLI tool, vctl, lets you build, run and manage OCI containers (including support for “kind”) and Kubernetes clusters with the security, performance and isolation features of virtual machines.
With the ability to run an entire virtual cloud stack on a single Mac, you can demonstrate an entire solution in real time, with safe rollback points to return to useful configurations.
Fusion 12 Pro and Player support running VMs on macOS 11 Big Sur, including features like Sidecar, which lets you use your iPad as the display for your VM.
Support massively sized virtual machines with up to 32 CPU cores, 128GB of RAM, 10TB virtual disks and 8GB of vRAM per VM with available hardware.
Run OCI container images or local Kubernetes clusters with the vctl CLI to build and test modern apps or get more familiar with emerging cloud technologies.
Isolate the Mac from Windows by disabling integration features, letting you secure and protect operating systems from each other.
Run modern games and apps with support for DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.1 in Windows and Linux, with added support for eGPUs to deliver maximum graphics performance.
Create custom virtual networks with unique subnet settings, MTU sizes, NAT port forwarding, degraded network simulations and more with Fusion Pro.
Design, test and demo software solutions for nearly any device, platform or cloud.
Build and test apps and operating systems with ease.
Enable BYO by delivering corporate desktops and apps to any user, anywhere.
See VMware Fusion system requirements:
Hardware
All Intel-based Macs launched in 2012* or later are supported, as well as:
*With exception, the following Macs are not supported:
Software
Fusion 12.2 and later is supported on any Intel-based Mac that officially supports macOS 11 ‘Big Sur’ or later.
For requirements of Fusion 12.1.2 and earlier, please visit:
The Metal rendering engine requires an Apple
Mac computer which supports Metal. See Apple's documentation regarding Metal supported Macs: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205073
Requirements to support DirectX 11 3D Acceleration in a virtual machine:
Hardware
Virtual machines for Windows and Linux.
Free local virtualization solution for Windows and Linux.
Server virtualization software.
General
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Fusion Player
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Fusion Pro
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Create New VMs |
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Create Large VMs (32CPU, 128GB RAM) |
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Convert PC into a virtual machine |
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Mass Deployment |
Host Guest Integration
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Fusion Player
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Fusion Pro
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Host/Guest File Sharing |
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Shared/Mirrored Folders |
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One-Click SSH to Linux VM |
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Run VMs with Different View Modes |
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Unity View Mode (Windows guests only) |
Graphics
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Fusion Player
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Fusion Pro
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3D graphics with DX11 and OpenGL 4.1 support |
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Large Graphics Memory: 8GB |
Device Support
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Fusion Player
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Fusion Pro
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4K / 5K / Retina Display Support |
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Support a Wide Range of Virtual Devices |
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USB Smart Card Reader Support |
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USB 3.1 Device Support |
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Assistive Device Support (Section 508 Compliant) |
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Multi-Language Keyboard Support |
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Virtual Trusted Platform Module Device |
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Virtual NVMe Device |
Security Features
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Fusion Player
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Fusion Pro
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Microsoft Virtualization Based Security (Guest) Support |
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Virtual Trusted Platform Module (vTPM) |
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UEFI Boot Support |
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UEFI Secure Boot Support |
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GPU Sandbox Renderer |
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Snapshots |
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Create/Manage Encrypted VM |
Host Operating Systems
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Fusion Player
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Fusion Pro
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Windows 10 Host |
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Linux - Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, Fedora,RHEL, SUSE, openSUSE | ||
macOS 11 and greater |
Guest Operating Systems
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Fusion Player
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Fusion Pro
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Over 200 Supported OSs (Linux, older Windows, BSD) |
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Windows 10 Guests |
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macOS Guests |
Mac Host Specific Features
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Fusion Player
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Fusion Pro
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macOS 11 Host support |
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macOS Guest Support |
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Windows apps in the Mac Dock |
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One-Click SSH to Linux VM |
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Metal Graphics Engine |
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BootCamp Import / Launch |
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Application Menu |
Windows Host Specific Features
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Fusion Player
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Fusion Pro
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Windows 10 Host |
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DX12 Rendering Engine |
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Hyper-V Mode Support (Device Guard, WSL) |
Linux Host Specific Features
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Fusion Player
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Fusion Pro
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Vulkan Rendering Engine |
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Host Support - Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, Fedora, RHEL, SUSE, openSUSE |
Advanced Features
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Fusion Player
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Fusion Pro
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Command Line Operation: vmrun and VIX |
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vCenter Server Appliance Easy Deploy |
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REST API |
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"Nautilus Container Engine" |
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Virtual Network Customization (NAT, network rename) |
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Virtual Network Simulation (Packet Loss, Latency, Bandwidth) |
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Remote vSphere Host Power Control |
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Create Linked Clones |
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Create Full Clones |
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Encrypt VMs |
Licensing
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Fusion Player
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Fusion Pro
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Free for Personal Use |
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Commercial License |
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Trial License |
VMware Fusion lets you run macOS, Windows, Linux and other x86-based operating systems as virtual machines. Nearly all programs that run on these operating systems will run with VMware Fusion. Programs can range from common productivity suites (such as Microsoft Office) to graphics-intensive programs such as AutoCAD or SolidWorks which require DirectX 11, as well as custom applications. Fusion Player and Fusion Pro can both also run containers and Kubernetes clusters with the built-in CLI ‘vctl.’
Yes, VMware Fusion 12 has 3D hardware-accelerated graphics support. For Windows VMs Fusion now supports DirectX 11 (with Shader Model 5.0) and earlier. For Windows and Linux guests Fusion provides OpenGL 4.1 capabilities. Fusion uses Apple Metal graphics technology to render 3D hardware-accelerated graphics to virtual machines on compatible Mac systems. See VMware Fusion system requirements for details.
Yes, VMware Fusion includes a simple Migration Assistant for Windows that allows you to quickly and easily move your entire PC to your Mac as a virtual machine. Install a simple application on your PC, connect it to your Mac, and VMware Fusion will detect your PC and take care of the rest.
Yes. VMware Fusion requires the installation of an operating system in order to function. The operating system is not included with the purchase of VMware Fusion. You can either migrate an existing copy of Windows from your old PC or install a new one. In order to run a Windows virtual machine, you must have a licensed copy of that Windows operating system or purchase a new Windows license.
Yes, you can run as many virtual machines concurrently with VMware Fusion 12 Pro and Player as your system’s CPU, RAM and disk storage will support. In fact, VMware Fusion leverages patented memory-sharing techniques to drastically reduce the memory required to run multiple virtual machines at the same time.
You can create an unlimited number of virtual machines from a single VMware Fusion license. You will need to provide the required operating system software and license for each installation of a virtual machine.
After the evaluation period has expired, you will be prompted to enter a license key. After purchasing the product, you will be provided a license key. Enter the purchased license key when prompted to unlock the full "unlimited" version of the software. To take advantage of complimentary email support for up to 18 months, your license key must be registered. If you purchased the product from the VMware Online store, your license key is automatically registered. If you purchased from a reseller, you need to manually register your license key in MyVMware. Please consult this KB article[JC(1] for detailed instructions on license key registration.
[JC(1]Added URL for article
No. You simply need to update your license key in VMware Fusion. You can do this from the "VMware Fusion" menu, click on "License" and enter your new license key.
VMware Fusion Player and Fusion Pro are perpetually licensed, with options for Support and Subscription add-ons to provide additional security for upgrades and troubleshooting.
To license VMware Fusion, simply enter a purchased license key during product installation in the license key field. Alternatively, you can enter your serial / license key from the "VMware Fusion" drop-down menu in the product. Choose "License" in the drop-down menu, enter the serial / license key and choose "OK."
Complimentary email support is activated as soon as your paid VMware Fusion license key is registered.
VMware Fusion Pro offers paid licenses for individual and commercial uses, and are available for purchase from our online store or from our authorized resellers and partners.
VMware Fusion Player is dual-licensed, with options for Personal Use or a Commercial Use license. Fusion Player Personal Use licenses can be obtained for free by registering at vmware.com.
VMware Fusion Player Commercial Licenses are available for purchase from our online store or from our authorized resellers and partners.
If you purchased the product from the VMware Online store, your license key is automatically registered. If you purchased from a reseller, you may need to manually register your license key in MyVMware. Please consult this KB article for detailed instructions on license key registration.
CComplimentary support starts when your VMware Fusion license is registered. Registration takes place automatically if you purchase your product from the VMware Online store. If you purchased from a reseller, you may need to register your license in MyVMware. Please consult this KB article for detailed instructions on license key registration.
Complimentary support for VMware Fusion Player and VMware Fusion Pro is valid for 30 days from product registration.